Jack C. Fuson

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Jack C. Fuson, formerly of Ware Neck in Gloucester County, Va., died at his home in Kingsmill, where he had resided since July 1994. Gen. Fuson spent 50 years serving his country, perfecting the art and science of logistics and enhancing the performance of the Transportation Corps. Thirty-seven of those years were on active duty in the U.S. Army, beginning with combat duty in the Pacific during WWII with the Second Engineer Amphibious Brigade and culminating as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army, responsible for all Army logistics systems world-wide. He served in three wars and commanded transportation units in New Guinea, Korea, Germany, Vietnam and the United States. Born in St. Joseph, Mo., on November 23, 1920, he attended the Missouri Military Academy from 1935 until 1939. Upon graduation, he received a commission as a Second Lieutenant to be effective when he was 21 years of age. In 1939 General Fuson entered Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., where he remained until his studies were interrupted by the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. He was immediately called to active duty. Prior to going off to war, he took time to marry Georgia Bahnsen of Americus, Ga., whom he met while attending Washington University. Upon entering the Army, the General was assigned to the Engineer Amphibious Command at Camp Edwards, Mass. Following a short training period he accompanied his unit, the 532nd Engineer Battalion & Shore Regiment to Australia, training with the 9th Australian Division. He spent the next three and a half years in combat in the South Pacific theatre conducting numerous amphibious beach assaults under the command of Douglas MacArthur. After the end of WWII, he rejoined the 532nd in Ft. Ord, Calif., where he remained until being integrated into the newly formed Transportation Corps of the Regular Army in July 1946. He was transferred to Ft. Eustis, Va. to begin the first of three assignments there, with the last being Commanding General from 1973 until 1975. The Ft. Eustis assignment was to begin 35 years in Transportation and Logistics; two years in Korea during the Korean War as Director of Terminal Operations in the Pusan Port; assignments in the Office of the Chief of Transportation; the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics; Commander, the Saigon Port in Vietnam; the J-4, Joint Staff MACV; the Director of Transportation in the office of the DCSLOG; the DCSLOG- USARPAC, the Director of Logistics in the Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Commandant of Ft. Eustis, Va; and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Department of the Army. With his peers, Gen. Fuson led the way to innovative changes in the Army's transportation and logistical systems. He attended the Transportation School; the Command & General Staff College; the Armed Forces Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He obtained his Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland. Awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Legion of Merit with six oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal; Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart and many campaign ribbons. Following retirement, General Fuson served as a consultant to the U.S. General Accounting Office for 10 years. After leaving GAO, he remained active in the community, providing outstanding leadership in numerous historical and community activities. He was very supportive in establishing the U.S. Army Transportation Museum at Ft. Eustis and served several terms on its Board of Directors. During the Yorktown Bicentennial in October, 1981, General Fuson served as Military Representative to the Yorktown Victory Celebration. In recognition of his long service and many contributions to U.S. Army Transportation Corps, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the U.S. Army Transportation Corps Hall of Fame. He also served for many years as a Docent at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Va. According to David Rieger of the Mariners' Museum of Newport News, Va.: "Jack C. Fuson began his volunteer service at The Mariners' Museum in 1996. He volunteered as a docent twice a week, greeting Museum's visitors and teaching children and adults about maritime history through tours in the galleries. In his seven and a half years as a docent, Jack averaged 290 hours each year. In 2003, General Fuson provided the Museum with 407 hours and will be posthumously awarded the 2003 John Pohl Jr. Docent of the Year Award. He was a valuable member of The Mariners' Museum and his sense of humor, smile and dedication will be greatly missed by his fellow docents and the entire staff."
Survivors include wife of 62 years, Georgia Bahnsen Fuson; two daughters, Nell Fuson Hacker and husband, Earl, Jennie Fuson Hamm and husband, Cory; three sons, J. Warren Fuson and wife, Sue, Jack C. Fuson Jr. and wife, Evie, Peter B. Fuson and wife, Suzanne; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services with full military honors will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at the Post Chapel, Fort Eustis, Va., Tuesday, February 24, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. In General Fuson's memory, should friends desire memorial contributions may be made to the U.S. Army Transportation Museum, Drawer D, Fort Eustis, Va. 23604 or to the Mariners' Museum, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, Va. 23606. Arrangements by Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point, Va.